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HAMPTON UNIVERSITY International Office Room 130, Phenix Hall Hampton, VA 23668 Hampton University Hampton, Virginia 23668 International Office Room 130, Phenix Hall 757-728-6914 Dear International Student: Welcome to Hampton University! This handbook will help you adjust to life at Hampton University, an American University with a unique and distinguished history. The first international students were enrolled when Hampton University was founded in 1868. We hope that your years with us in our "Home by the Sea" will be educationally profitable for you. In return, your presence in our community will continue to enrich and broaden our multi-cultural environment. The handbook clarifies some of the regulations and procedures that apply to you as an international student. Please pay particular attention to the 2009 Federal Regulations affecting your program of study and your right to work while studying in the United States. Among other areas, Federal Regulations affect the following important aspects of your study program: • The length of your program of study, • The number of courses in which you must enroll each semester, • The procedure to follow when changing institutions or programs of study • When and where you may work Please review the regulations carefully. Contact the HU International Office, if you have any questions. Be sure to check in as soon as you arrive with the HU International Office, Room 130, Phenix Hall. The email is [email protected] and telephone number is 757-728-6914. Very cordially, INTERNATIONAL OFFICE Table of Contents I. International Office: An Overview, Contact Information ............................ 4 II. Applying for your visa ............................................................................... 5 III. Maintaining Lawful Immigration Status ..................................................11 o Important Definitions ...................................................................... 16 o USCIS and Department of State websites ....................................... 20 o Work Regulations (on campus, OPT, CPT, Financial Hardship) .... 20 o Social Security Number, eligibility and application procedures ......24 o Taxes, filing requirements ............................................................... 24 o Driver's Licenses and Automobile Information ............................... 25 IV. Hampton University and the Community ................................................. 25 o Important Facts About the University Calendar .............................. 27 o Transportation, Airports, etc. .......................................................... 28 o Accommodation, Hotels .................................................................. 29 o Housing, Information for Renters (leases, utilities, etc.) ................. 29 o Banking ............................................................................................... 32 o Shopping ............................................................................................. 33 o The City of Hampton, History and Attractions ................................ 35 o University Health Services .............................................................. 37 o Medical Insurance ........................................................................... 38 o Medical Terminology. ..................................................................... 38 o Personal Safety. ............................................................................... 40 o Churches and Religious Activities .................................................. 40 o Student Associations, International Students Association ............... 41 o Adjusting to a New Culture ............................................................. 42 o Conclusion - Life in the United States ............................................. 44 I. Hampton University International Office --Overview The Hampton University international students’ community includes over 150 students from numerous foreign countries and five continents. Under the auspices of the College of Education and Continuing Studies, the International Office oversees all matters related to international educational programs at the university. The International Office handles study abroad programs, student foreign exchange programs and advises faculty on related grants opportunities and scholarly exchanges. The office houses the Designated School Official (DSO) to assist international students in complying with regulations of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Special orientation programs and workshops for international students and scholars will help you maintain status as you pursue your degree. Topics will include enrollment requirements and the time frame for completing your program of study, special registrations that may be required from time-to-time, permission to work under certain authorized circumstances, travel regulations, tax information and other important matters. The International Office serves as a one-stop service facility for the entire Hampton University campus focused on coordinating educational outreach, social activities and academic enrichment opportunities for all students, faculty and the community at-large. In addition, the Office offers referrals on related issues such as international student activities, community outreach and individual and group assistance with the many cultural aspects of studying in a foreign country. Contact Information Hampton University International Office Room 130, Phenix Hall Phone 757-728-6914 (messages are checked regularly at all times of year) Email: [email protected] International students are required to sign up for a Hampton University pipeline email address. For important announcements: check the International Students Blackboard Site, on the Hampton University website, where documents, this handbook, special announcements and other information are posted. 4 II. Applying for your Visa The certificate of eligibility I-20 or DS-3036 you have received from Hampton University is a government document. The information has been entered on a website of the US Department of State to help confirm that you have been admitted to the university and are eligible for an F-1 (or J-1) visa to enter the country. For further explanations of each document, see the State Department Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange/student.html. If for any reason you will not enroll at Hampton University by the date indicated on your I-20, please return the I-20 to the HU International Office with a brief explanation of the reason (i.e., change of plans, denial of visa, decision to defer study). The returned I-20 will be canceled. Please notify the Admissions Office or Graduate College if you wish to defer your enrollment at Hampton University. New forms will be sent to you and a new or updated certificate of eligibility will be issued for the semester when you intend to enroll. For current information on how to apply for a visa, how much time to allow for the application procedure and recent changes in procedure, please go to the State Department website: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange/student.html. After reading the intro- duction, go to for further information about the application process for your country. Preparing For Your F-1 Visa Interview This information was prepared by the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) for people who plan to enter the United States for the first time to study. For information on bringing dependents to the US, returning to continue studies, or renewing your visa, or for more details on how to apply for a student visa, refer to the US Department of State website, at: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html. Please share this information with any friends or relatives who are considering study in the United States. Steps 1. Contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy to ask about how to get an F-1 international student visa. 2. After you receive an I-20 form from the school that you want to attend, follow the U.S. Embassy/Consulate's instructions to schedule an interview for your F-1 student visa. It is important to apply for your student visa as far in advance as possible. Many consulates recommend that appointments be made no more than 90 days from the intended date of travel, but some can make earlier arrangements for interviews. 3. Pay the visa application fee by following instructions on your local U.S. Embassy's or Consulate's web site. 4. If your I-20 was issued on or after September 1, 2004, and is marked for ““initial" attendance (see #3 on your I-20 form), you will also need to pay the $200 SEVIS fee. 5 http://www.nafsa.org/Resource_Library_Assets/Regulatory_Information/SEVIS_Fee_for_IEP_Students/ 5. Complete the following forms: • DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form • DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant • if a male between the ages of 16 and 45, DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application To Pay by Mail • Get a Form I-901 “ Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants." • Download the I-901 form from https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901 or • Ask for the form by phone at 800.870.3676 (inside the United States) • Complete the Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly how it appears on your I-20 form. • Prepare a check, international money order or foreign draft (drawn on US banks only1) in the amount of $200 USD, made payable to “ The Department